ChickenRun

Has it still got the option to manually change gear using the stick? Yes - my car still has the manual nudge change, which I've used once in seven months when an iced-over road made the auto almost impossible to drive (fun though). I did think the paddles were huge - that put me off. Each to their own of course - my Alfa back in 2001 had buttons, very nice... And, as well as no-paddles and integrated Bluetooth, I also think my HDD USB was part of the new spec?

And imagine the air-cooled seats...

The USB HDD works OK. One niggle - I have c480 CD's contained, and the random play option only seems to cover c150 folders within range of the starting track. Anyone else experience this?

Beware too - cufflinks on the armrest...! Can make a nasty scratch (especially if made from metals, I guess)...

I got my 59-reg IS250 SE-I in November 2009 - I believe this was one of the first "new specs" without paddles as standard - and with Bluetooth integrated as standard. I thought this was an updated specification - I'd waited a few months as prior to that, the spec was with paddles but without Bluetooth, and I wanted the newer combo.

You'll love it....until the first load of snow hits when if you're like me you'll wish for 4 wheel drive or even front wheel drive rather than rear....I drive a rear wheel myself and even with heavy frost the going can become interesting compared to the sure-footed RX. However for the other 90% of the year it will be superb!!! Gz on the new car purchase! My "2010 Spec Is250 Se-i Auto" has an auto-mode button with a 'Snow' option (and a 'Power' option too) - do you have this Valkirk? Is it a 2010 thing? Does it make life easier?

Have also just off-loaded my IS220D. 2.5 years old, 56K miles. It started to run like a dog a few months back. I did have the Sports model at least - I never really got to 'love' the car, but I accepted it for most of my ownership. But it started to feel wrong - pulling away from junctions was becoming a nightmare, felt energy loss when slow-cruising on motorways a couple of times. Dropped to c37.5 mpg consumption. I now have a spanking, stonking IS250 Auto. SE-I (with the metallic paint and wheel upgrade offer). 2010 model too - the big floppy gear flaps on the steering wheel have gone, Bluetooth and USB HDD now integral, and the rear lights have a funky profile shape. In favour of the 220, the Sport option had lots of extras that I now miss (xenon, motion tracing headlamps in particular). Also, when cruising on motorway, the engine was a whisper, and the torques superb. I did a trade-in, and the price was spot-on for the Parkers/Glass lower value. Plus, dealer had a 'loyalty' trade-in bonus (a sort of non-scrappage scrappage-scheme?!). I did see my 220 on the Lexus used web-site for a week - now it's gone. The dealer may have made a nice little profit - good luck to them! As for the 250, the engine is permanently a whisper! Less than 900 miles so far, it's just started to become fun to push a little. The auto gearing is great. And I've not yet used the nudge-tronic, nor the 'Power' mode option. So far so good - fingers crossed! If only those headlights were white-bright... Oh yes - I went for the Tsuki 18-inch alloys - dealer said they were quite new - any thoughts...? http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/is/accessories/exterior.aspx Bobby.

Correct! Have just dropped a deposit down, based on a combined £1K Loyalty trade-in, and free upgraded alloys with metallic paint... 2010-spec 250SE-I Auto on its way - roll-on!!!

Hello All, I've had my first Lexus for three weeks now - it's a 220D Sport, was seven months old & 13K miles. I've done 1400 miles, mostly motorway... Still have my previous car - Alfa GT 2.0 JTS. It's mostly parked-up, on sale awaiting a decent offer. Chalk & cheese - a heavy rear-wheel drive luxury diesel saloon from a light front-wheel drive petrol coupe. It's 'interesting' adjusting to the Lexus! Reasons for changing car type (coupe to saloon) are personal & work. Reasons for changing car brand are obvious - I've had two Alfas, 150K miles of joy (to drive), despair (at problems) and frustration (at the poor resolution to the problems). Alfa dealers were good - in that they were helpful and supportive (much investigation for free), but sloppy (fixes requiring subsequent fixes). I was half-tempted to try an Alfa 159, at first. I soon came to my senses... Jag - may as well has stuck with Alfa. VAG - yawn... may as well have gone for a Ford! BMW - would merge into company car park - wanted to stand out... New Merc C-Class - surprisingly bland-looking. Poor basic spec. I have yet to experience post-sale customer service, but the sales-cycle was decent. And, I certainly expect residual values of Lexus to be a little better than Alfa! So far - so good. The fuel consumption seems fine to me, performance is OK round town and top-notch on the motorway. I expect to be able to keep the Lexus for over five years - my Alfa expectation was for three... Fingers crossed!